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His rectors were Baglione da Perugia and Guglielmo da Scesi； who； with
Cerrettieri Bisdomini； were the persons with whom he consulted on
public affairs。 He imposed burdensome taxes upon the citizens； his
decisions between contending parties were unjust； and that precision
and humanity which he had at first assumed； became cruelty and pride；
so that many of the greatest citizens and noblest people were； either
by fines； death； or some new invention； grievously oppressed。 And in
completing the same bad system； both without the city and within； he
appointed six rectors for the country； who beat and plundered the
inhabitants。 He suspected the great； although he had been benefited by
them； and had restored many to their country； for he felt assured that
the generous minds of the nobility would not allow them； from any
motives； to submit contentedly to his authority。 He also began to
confer benefits and advantages upon the lowest orders； thinking that
with their assistance； and the arms of foreigners； he would be able to
preserve the tyranny。 The month of May； during which feasts are held；
being come； he caused many companies to be formed of the plebeians and
very lowest of the people； and to these； dignified with splendid
titles； he gave colors and money； and while one party went in
bacchanalian procession through the city； others were stationed in
different parts of it； to receive them as guests。 As the report of the
duke's authority spread abroad； many of French origin came to him； for
all of whom he found offices and emoluments； as if they had been the
most trustworthy of men； so that in a short time Florence became not
only subject to French dominion； but adopted their dress and manners；
for men and women； without regard to propriety or sense of shame；
imitated them。 But that which disgusted the people most completely was
the violence which； without any distinction of quality or rank； he and
his followers committed upon the women。
The people were filled with indignation； seeing the majesty of the
state overturned； its ordinances annihilated； its laws annulled； and
every decent regulation set at naught； for men unaccustomed to royal
pomp could not endure to see this man surrounded with his armed
satellites on foot and on horseback； and having now a closer view of
their disgrace； they were compelled to honor him whom they in the
highest degree hated。 To this hatred； was added the terror occasioned
by the continual imposition of new taxes and frequent shedding of
blood； with which he impoverished and consumed the city。
The duke was not unaware of these impressions existing strongly in the
people's minds； nor was he without fear of the consequences； but still
pretended to think himself beloved； and when Matteo di Morozzo； either
to acquire his favor or to free himself from danger； gave information
that the family of the Medici and some others had entered into a
conspiracy against him he not only did not inquire into the matter；
but caused the informer to be put to a cruel death。 This mode of
proceeding restrained those who were disposed to acquaint him of his
danger and gave additional courage to such as sought his ruin。 Bertone
Cini； having ventured to speak against the taxes with which the people
were loaded； had his tongue cut out with such barbarous cruelty as to
cause his death。 This shocking act increased the people's rage； and
their hatred of the duke； for those who were accustomed to discourse
and to act upon every occasion with the greatest boldness； could not
endure to live with their hands tied and forbidden to speak。
This oppression increased to such a degree； that not merely the
Florentines； who though unable to preserve their liberty cannot endure
slavery； but the most servile people on earth would have been roused
to attempt the recovery of freedom； and consequently many citizens of
all ranks resolved either to deliver themselves from this odious
tyranny or die in the attempt。 Three distinct conspiracies were
formed； one of the great； another of the people； and the third of the
working classes； each of which； besides the general causes which
operated upon the whole； were excited by some other particular
grievance。 The great found themselves deprived of all participation in
the government； the people had lost the power they possessed； and the
artificers saw themselves deficient in the usual remuneration of their
labor。
Agnolo Acciajuoli was at this time archbishop of Florence； and by his
discourses had formerly greatly favored the duke； and procured him
many followers among the higher class of the people。 But when he found
him lord of the city； and became acquainted with his tyrannical mode
of proceeding； it appeared to him that he had misled his countrymen；
and to correct the evil he had done； he saw no other course； but to
attempt the cure by the means which had caused it。 He therefore became
the leader of the first and most powerful conspiracy； and was joined
by the Bardi； Rossi； Frescobaldi； Scali Altoviti； Magalotti； Strozzi；
and Mancini。 Of the second； the principals were Manno and Corso
Donati； and with them the Pazzi； Cavicciulli； Cerchi； and Albizzi。 Of
the third the first was Antonio Adimari； and with him the Medici；
Bordini； Rucellai； and Aldobrandini。 It was the intention of these
last； to slay him in the house of the Albizzi； whither he was expected
to go on St。 John's day； to see the horses run； but he not having
gone； their design did not succeed。 They then resolved to attack him
as he rode through the city； but they found this would be very
difficult； for he was always accompanied with a considerable armed
force； and never took the same road twice together； so that they had
no certainty of where to find him。 They had a design of slaying him in
the council； although they knew that if he were dead； they would be at
the mercy of his followers。
While these matters were being considered by the conspirators； Antonio
Adimari； in expectation of getting assistance from them； disclosed the
affair to some Siennese； his friends； naming certain of the
conspirators； and assuring them that the whole city was ready to rise
at once。 One of them communicated the matter to Francesco
Brunelleschi； not with a design to injure the plot； but in the hope
that he would join them。 Francesco； either from personal fear； or
private hatred of some one； revealed the whole to the duke； whereupon；
Pagolo del Mazecha and Simon da Monterappoli were taken； who
acquainted him with the number and quality of the conspirators。 This
terrified him； and he was advised to request their presence rather
than to take them prisoners； for if they fled； he might without
disgrace； secure himself by banishment of the rest。 He therefore sent
for Antonio Adimari； who； confiding in his companions； appeared
immediately； and was detained。 Francesco Brunelleschi and Uguccione
Buondelmonti advised the duke to take as many of the conspirators
prisoners as he could； and put them to death； but he； thinking his
strength unequal to his foes； did not adopt this course； but took
another； which； had it succeeded； would have freed him from his
enemies and increased his power。 It was the custom of the duke to call
the citizens together upon some occasions and advise with them。 He
therefore having first sent to collect forces from without； made a
list of three hundred citizens； and gave it to his messengers； with
orders to assemble them under the pretense of public business； and
having drawn them together； it was his intention either to put them to
death or imprison them。
The capture of Antonio Adimari and the sending for forces； which could
not be kept secret； alarmed the citizens； and more particularly those
who were in the plot； so that the boldest of them refused to attend；
and as each had read the list； they sought each other； and resolved to
rise at once and die like men； with arms in their hands； rather than
be led like calves to the slaughter。 In a very short time the chief
conspirators became known to each other； and resolved that the next
day； which was the 26th July； 1343； they would raise a disturbance in
the Old Market place； then arm themselves and call the people to
freedom。
The next morning being come； at nine o'clock； according to agreement；
they took arms； and at the call of liberty assembled； each party in
its own district； under the ensigns and with the arms of the people；
which had been secretly provided by the conspirators。 All the heads of
families； as well of the nobility as of the people； met together； and
swore to stand in each other's defense； and effect the death of the
duke； except some of the Buondelmonti and of the Cavalcanti； with
those four families of the people which had taken so conspicuous a
part in making him sovereign； and the butchers； with others； the
lowest of the plebeians； who met armed in the piazza in his favor。